MUSIC THEORY

Music 221

Mod 2
OCTAVE DESIGNATIONS
Middle C is labeled C4. The C below middle C is called C3. All of the notes between these are called the 3rd octave (C#3, D3, Eb3, E3, F3, F#3, G3, Ab3, A3, Bb3, and B3). The C above middle C is C5 and so on (C6, C7, C8). The C below C3 is C2. Next down is C1. If lower notes (e.g. those of the piano keyboard) are to be named they would be B0, Bb0, A0, etc.

 
                                                                                                                Middle C

You can drill identifying note names only (not octave designations) at http://www.emusictheory.com/drillNoteReading.html

STAFF/CLEFS

The 5 line staff is used for writing music. One of the purposes for the staff is to designate which pitch is to be sounded. The lines and spaces of the staff do not, on their own, specify a pitch. A clef is needed at the beginning of the staff to determine which pitches are represented. There are 3 basic types of cleffs; G clef, C clef, and F clef. The G clef (when it encompasses the 2nd line of the staff) signifies that the second line is G4, (the G above middle C), and is called the treble clef. Likewise, the F clef (when it encompasses the 4th line of the staff) signifies that the fourth line is F3, (the F below middle C), and is called the bass clef. The C clef which specifies C4 (middle C) is called the alto clef when the "C" encompasses the 3rd line. If the "C" encompasses the 4th line, it is called the tenor clef.

For a drill on reading the alto and tenor clefs, click on http://www.emusictheory.com/drillCReading.html

 GRAND STAFF/LEGER LINES

The two-line staff (treble above, bass below) connected to one another is called the Grand Staff. Any notes that appear above or below any staff are called leger lines. Leger lines are used to extend the lines of a staff; as such these lines should be spaced the same as the lines of the staff.

 ACCIDENTALS

A sharp (#) raises the pitch of a note by a half step. A flat (b) lowers the pitch of a note by a half step. A natural sign negates either of the other two. A double flat (bb) lowers the pitch of a note by two half steps. A double sharp (X) raises the pitch of a note by two half steps.
This page is designed to assist students enrolled in Music 221 - Music Theory. If you had difficulty in class with the contents of this lesson, this may help you to comprehend the material. If you missed the presentation in class, this may help to update the material for you.
If you still have questions, contact Dr. Bartolotta at wbartolo@odu.edu
William S. Bartolotta
Music Department
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529